Sputtering with Clunk Sound 97 TJ

[Squamyjeep]

While I sit on the the side of the highway awaiting a tow truck. I cant help but muse why the night i pick up a childhood dream of owning a TJ something goes so wrong.

Coles notes 97 TJ 200,000km

Driving down the highway jeep starts losing power sputters and kind of hops along. No engine lights no change in pressures, rims move around odd clunking sound below occurs. Turn off for 5 minutes get another 10 min down the highway going into a hill happens again.

I'm hoping this isn't major seems to me like it isn't.l but not being familiar with jeeps and not getting my hands dirty in a long while thoughts and comments appreciated.

Cheers

Edward

 

[eric m]

Odd sounds are hard to diagnose from over the internet, but the sputtering and loss of power reminds me of the time I was setting along side the highway waiting for a tow in my tj lol. My issue winded up being a clogged cat converter. It was odd because it never tripped any check engine lights, the jeep just started losing power till it pretty much died. A cat going bad can make a death rattle or clunk sound.

 

[eric m]

An easy way to check if that is the problem is to loosen the bolts where the down pipe connects to the manifold, when you have a gap if the jeep runs good again that will let you know if that is the issue.

 

[JPNinPA]

That or pull the upstream O2 sensor. Both ways you may throw a code for the O2.

Does your temp gage work?

 

[wrang97]

try placing a 1 inch spacer on rear battery clamp to push battery away from computer wiring harness. it bumps into harness and disrupts signals to and from sensors